Part 263
She found Yuan sleeping on the couch when she went inside his apartment. Bukas ang TV at may kung anong palabas ang kasalukuyang umeere.
May isang shot glass din sa center table at ang hindi pa nangangalahating bote ng vodka. May lime juice ding nakita si Chia sa tabi.
A little smile visited her lips. Pagod na siya simula pa last week dahil sa dami ng pinagagawa, isama pa ang pagpaplano niya para sa wedding dress ni Una.
Chandra placed the pizza box on top of the table. Saglit din siyang dumeretso sa fridge para ilagay sa freezer ang ice cream na binili niya bago bumalik sa sala. Nilinis niya rin saglit ang center table at hinugasan ang mga basong ginamit ni Yuan.
Yuan groaned when he heard the noise coming from the kitchen. Sakto rin namang katatapos lang ni Chia sa paghuhugas nang medyo magising si Yuan kaya dumeretso siya sa sala matapos tuyuin ang kamay.
"You're awake na? Bumili ako ng pizza. Nabanggit ni Ate Una kay Kuya na gusto mo raw ng pizza tuwing nakakainom ka kaya bumili ako. I also bought ice cream if you like, nasa freezer," tuloy-tuloy na sabi ni Chia habang namumungay ang mga mata ni Yuan.
He's still half-asleep. Kasalukuyan niya ring hinahabol ang ulirat niya nang yumuko si Chia para mahalikan siya sa pisngi.
"Hi, sunshine. Sorry super busy ko lately, dalawang date na rin na-miss ko—"
"Chandra . . . " he called in a hoarse voice. Inabot niya rin ang isang kamay ni Chia.
"Hmm?"
"Yakap mo 'ko, ang lamig," sabi ni Yuan.
She smiled. "Kasi kinalimutan mo na naman ata i-adjust thermostat mo."
"Yakap," sabi ulit ni Yuan.
Chia laid down on the little space he spared for her on the couch. Umunan din siya sa braso ni Yuan saka yumakap.
He smiled, locking her more in his arms.
"Ang daya, sabi ko yakap mo 'ko. Ako naman nakayakap sa'yo."
Chia let out a soft chuckle. "Nakayakap din naman ako sa'yo," sabi niya saka dinantay ang hita kay Yuan.
She buried her face in his chest. Amoy na amoy ni Chia ang naghalong vodka at lemon juice kay Yuan. She wrinkled her nose. It's not that he stinks. She's used to the smell of liquor. But the scent on Yuan is not something familiar. Naninibago siya at napapaisip. It's her first time to see him drunk . . . if he's truly drunk as of the moment.
Kasi parang hindi naman. Ibang-iba tuwing mga kuya at daddy niya ang nalalasing.
Yuan is still aware of what's happening around, still aware of her presence. Hindi rin siya makulit kaya mas lalong napapaisip si Chia.
Maybe this is his version of drunk, she thought. Humigpit na lang ang yakap niya kay Yuan. She also smiled when she felt him planting a kiss on her hair.
"Lalamig na 'yong pizza kapag 'di ka pa kumain."
Humigpit din ang yakap ni Yuan sa kanya. "Mamaya na."
"Okay."
He misses her. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, sobrang busy ni Chandra dahil na rin sa workshop. He didn't want to admit it, but sometimes, he feels lonely whenever he's left alone in the corners of his own apartment.
May mga kakilala naman siya sa trabaho pero dahil na rin sa language barrier ay nahihirapan siyang kumaibigan.
Alcohol helps him loosen up a bit sometimes. He knows he's not drunk, he's never been drunk. No'ng nalaman ni Nina na hindi pa siya nalalasing kahit isang beses, naging challenge 'yon para sa kanya na malasing si Yuan tuwing nagkakayayaan silang uminom dati.
He doesn't know if he has a high alcohol tolerance or he's just not that fond of alcohol. He never went beyond limits. Sabi rin nila masarap pero pagtapos ng ilang baso at shot, humihinto rin siya dahil hindi niya gusto ang lasa. Isa rin siguro 'yon sa dahilan kung bakit hindi pa siya nalalasing.
But earlier, he felt it kick in. Maybe it was just for a while because at this very instant, he's fully aware of her presence, and the question is still lingering on his mind.
"Chandra," he called.
Napaangat naman ng ulo si Chia para lang matingnan siya.
"Hmm?"
Her eyes were marbling . . . sparkling. Dim as the night sky; bright like the stars. It's as if her eyes holds a universe. One that is not familiar to humanity, only him.
And he wishes to know why this universe can reel him into its vastness and brilliance.
"Yuan?" she called his name. Kanina pa nagtataka si Chia kung ano ang sasabihin ni Yuan sa kanya. But he's just there, looking at her with the evident sadness in his eyes.
She knows why . . .
A faint smile crossed her lips when her hand reached for his face.
"Sorry talaga busy ako and may na-miss akong dates natin," sabi niya.
Napangiti naman si Yuan. "Ayos lang. Gusto ko talagang magtampo sa'yo pero alam ko rin namang magiging busy ka kaya okay lang. Dream job mo rin 'yan. Hindi ako magtatampo dahil do'n."
Hindi nakaimik agad si Chia, pero kahit papaano ay nakahinga siya nang maluwag sa sinabi ni Yuan. She knows for the past few weeks, that he's been the one putting efforts just so they'd see each other, and she doesn't want to take that for granted.
It was never in her intention to take him for granted. And maybe, Yuan felt that she was shutting him out when she told him to stop making dinners for her, or that she can drive herself to the workshop.
She just doesn't want to feel like she's giving him more work and it's becoming an inconvenience on his part. It already means so much to her that he's also in Paris and they're still together despite what she did before.
Chia still holds that out to her conscience, and she doesn't understand why he's not angry.
Kahit patak man lang ng galit o inis, wala siyang nakuha. Instead, he was always there and he never left her.
Everything was beginning to dawn on her mind when a warm hand pressed against the back of her palm.
Yuan leaned on her touch and it his warmth was able to pull her back at the moment.
"'Wag kang mag-sorry tuwing pinipili mo ang sarili mo. I want you to love yourself just as how much you love us." He smiled. "Ayos lang naman kung busy ka. Miss lang talaga kita minsan. Okay?"
She nodded. "Okay."
Nang mawala ang pagkakahawak ni Yuan sa kamay niya bumalik ang pagkakayakap niya sa baywang nito. She also buried her face in his chest once again.
Yuan also rested his cheek on top of her head. He could feel her breathing him in.
"Chandra," tawag ni Yuan.
"Hmm?"
"Live with me," he said.
"Ha?" Napaangat ulit ng ulo si Chia dahil sa narinig.
"I want to live with you."
